Apparatus for forming filaments from viscose



June 8 1926.

S. A. NEIDICH I APPARATUS FOR FORMING F ILAMENTS FROM VISCOSE Filed May 23 1925 til they are sufliciently produced,

desired to form such filaments Patented June 8, 1926.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL A. NEIDICH,,OF EDGEWATER IPAYRK, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING FILA'MENTS FROM VIS COSE.

Application filed May as, i925. Serial No. 32,405.

Liquid viscose (cellulose sulphooarbonate or thiocarbonate) may be coagulated or precipitated to form a gelatinous semi-solid cellulose hydrate complex by progressively projecting a stream of such viscose into a heated atmosphere or into an aqueous solution containing a suitable acid, for instance, sulphuric or hydrochloric acid, or containing an acid salt such as sodium bisulphite or ammonium chloride either with or without neutral salts or dehydrators, or both; or carbonbi-sulphide, etc.

Such a filament is amorphous and so soft and impressionable that itis easily deformed even by contact with itself in successive convolutions, and even slight indentations of the ultimate commercial filament formed by drying and contraction from its primarily soft gelatinous form are conspicuously notice able because of the reflection of light therefrom, whereas; the commercial value of such filament is largely dependent upon its uniformity. of cross section and uniformly lustrous appearance. Consequently, when it is of uniform cross section free from indentation, it is undesirable to wind them in the usual way upon the surface of bobbins or other similar containers, and a method of dropping such filaments in bulk is desirable, However, when such-filaments are dropped in loose bulk, even their own weight impressing the upper layers upon the lower layers, produces such indentations as to be undesirable.

Therefore, it. is the object and effect of my invention'to provide means to separately receive and store each filament, in close but loose convolutions, and suspend and support such filaments practically continuously from the time they leave the coagulating bath unfirm to resist such deformation or indentation, so that the final product is of uniform cross section and without the defects aforesaid and consequently of greater commercial value.

To that end my invention includes the provision of means to receive and closely but loosely coil such a filament, as fast as it is but prevent adjacent layers of the filament from thus marking eachother by their weight, by supporting that Weight in a liquid of approximately equal specific gravity.' Such liquid, and the process of employing the same, as

1 herein cont-empl ated,

are claimed in my copending application Ser1al No. 32,405. Such liquid is preferably one which is also capable of rendering the filament sufficiently firm to be self-supporting without deformation. For 1nstance, an aqueous solution containing six and one half percent of sodium bi-sulphite, three percent of sodium sulphate (Glaubers salt), and four percent of NI-LCL (salammoniac) supports such filaments and simultaneously renders them firm enough to be self-supporting.

I have found by experiment that by permittmg the precipitated filaments to drop in a progressively coiled mass in the above solution and remain still for several hours, they are sufficiently firm to undergo the chemical treatment described in. my copending application Serial No. 26,825, and may be readily withdrawn therefrom, by suitable winding means; without tangling.

The flotation liquid above specified is varied in specific gravity from 1.04 to 1.20- in accordance with variations in the specific gravity of the filament being suspended therein, which varies in v specific gravity in accordance with the character of the means employed for its coagulation and the stage of the latter. Moreover although an ordinary coagulating 'bath, consisting of an aqueous solution of sulphuric acid (H SO,) ranges from 1.2 to 1.5 specific gravity it has a tend: ency to increase in gravity constantly because ofthe formation therein of sodium sulphate incident to the reactions involved in the coagulating process. Therefore, ,to attain the best flotation effect above contem plated, constant care must be exercised to maintain the specific gravity of the flotation liquid substantially uniform, in compensation for its tendency to increase in ravitv. as the upward pressure upon the from a flotationliquid which is too heavy may produce marks upon the filament as ament detrimental as the marks produced by downa of uniform circularcross section and free from the defects aforesaid as it is discharged by said roller. However, to thus continue to support it in isolated position would be impracticable for lack of space and consequent consideration of cost of manufacture, etc.

Therefore, I- provide a container into which such filament may ravitate and in which it may be supporte by flotation, as above contemplated, and preferably in a bath containing chemicals which facilitate the formation of the initially soft and gelat inous substance of the filament to the desired solid resilient state. Such containers may be circular in plan and "oscillated at such slow rate that the filament is piled in circumferentially successive convolutions around the axis of rotation of the container; the latterbeing oscillated rather than revolved, to avoid twisting the filament.

Such oscillation is preferably progressive,

being alternately to a greater arcual extent in one direction than in the other, so that the container is ultimately charged with a mass of filament entirely surrounding its axis with the overlapped portions of'the filament progressively circumferentially dis-- tributed therein and supported by the gravitative flotation elfectof the liquid in the con- .tainer.

I have shown apparatus for thus oscillating such containers while thus directing filaments thereto in the accompanying draw-- ings, wherein Fig. I is a diagrammatic plan view indicating apparatus for supporting andoscillating three containers.

Fig. II is a vertical diametrical sectional view of the central container and its support indicated in Fig. I, but also showing the relation thereto ,of suitable means for delivering filaments respectively to that container and .the other two containers indicated in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a fragmentary elevation of the slide bar which carries the filament guides indicated in Fig. II, and means for reciproeating said slide bar.-

In said figures; the containers 1 are conveniently formed of material capable of resisting. the corrosive action of the liquids to which they are exposed; for instance, sheet Monel metal. Each container 1 is initially filled with flotation liquid 2, but, as the bulk of the filament v3 is progressively piled therein, it causes said liquid 2 to overflow said container 1. Therefore, I prefer to mount each container 1 in a holding vessel 5 which may be a wooden pail or tub.

Each such container 1, charged with flotation liquid 2, and mounted in its holding vessel 5, is supported by a rotary gear 6; being conveniently centered thereon between three upwardly projecting studs 7 which are rigidly mounted in such gear. Each of saidtion by the sprocket chain 15 which may, for

instance, be motor.

In such apparatus which I now have in operation, the electric motor is provided with such means for controlling it that each container 1 is slowly turned, first one way and then the other, but through a greater are in one direction than inthe other. instance, all of the containers may thus be simultaneously turned through an arc of 300 and then reversely turned through an arc of 380, i. e., 20 more than a complete revolution, and so on, being thus alternately oscillated respectively less and more than one revolution.

Contemporaneously, with such differential oscillatory movement of said containers 1; the filaments 3 are respectively delivered therein by frictional engagement with and traction of the respective feed rollers 16 which are conveniently rigidly connected in coaxial relation with the shaft 17,, which may be thus rotated by any convenient means. side of a trough-shaped tank 18 containing a suitable coagulating liquid 19 into which the-filaments 3 are respectively projected through spinneret orifices under pressure by any suitable means. progressed through the liquid 19 to such an extent as to so far coagulate it that it may be drawn out by the traction of its feed roller 16, to which the filament 3extends through any suitable guide, for instance, a

driven by a reversible electric to turn them by means of- In Fig. II, I have indicated the- Each filament 3 isliquid-tight For a glazed metal hook 20. 'Suchguides 20 may i conveniently effected by rigidly connecting them with the slide bar 21 which may be mounted in. suitable guides which are stationary with respect to said tank 18. Said bar 21 has, rigidly projecting therefrom, the arm 22 having the slot 23 for engagement with the crank pin 24 which is conveniently mounted in the disk 25 carried by the rotary shaft 26; so that rotation of said shaft 26 reciprocates said bar to the extent indicated by the spaced relation of the vertical dash lines in Fig. II. Said shaft 26 may be thus rotated by any convenient means. It

' is to be understood that the continuous operation of said rollers 16 uniformly drawing the filaments 3 through the bath of liquid 1-9, and the reciprocation of said guides 20 contemporaneously with the oscillation of said containers 1 are so coordinated that each container is ultimately prog ressed more than two revolutions in one direction and charged with a mass of filament in convolutions which are first ra-' dially and second circumferentially successive with reference to the axis of each container, in which the overlapped portions of the filament are thus progressively circumferentially distributed; each filament being supported by the gravitative flotation effectof the liquid 2 in its container, as aforesaid. so as to be unmarked by its own weight, despite the compact form in which it is thus disposed.

However, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction, ar-

rangement or procedure herein set forth, as

it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention, as defined inthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for forming filaments from viscose, the combination with a train of interconnected gears, of the same diameter,

- mounted to rotate with their axes vertical;

of means arranged to oscillate said gears, by

simultaneously turning them in one d1rection and then in the other, such turning movement 1n one (llIB'Ct-IOII belng 1n excess of. one but less-than two'rev'olutions, and

such turningmovement in the opposite direction being less than one revolution; so that each of said gears. is thus ultimately progressed in one direction more than two revolutions; such means for turning said gears including a gear in mesh with one of said train of'gears and carrying a worm gear, a worm engaged with said worm gear, an electric motor operatively connected with said worm, and means arranged to reverse the operation of said motor at predetermined intervals; means on each of said gears, arranged to'center a container in coaxial relation therewith, including a circular series of upwardly extending studs;

holder vessels thus respectively mounted in coaxial relation with said gears; filament, containers respectively carried in said holder vessels, in coaxial relation therewith; means arranged to deliver filaments into said containers, including feed rollers respectively extending above said containers,- upon a common rotary shaft, arranged'to turn toward said containers; filament guides, respectively local to said rollers; aslide bar carrying said guides in rigid relation therewith; and means arranged to reciprocate said bar; whereby said filaments are respectively directed through said guides, over said rollers, and deposited iii-said containers in convolutions which are radially and circumferentiallyvsuccessive, in arcs which are alternately greater than and less than one revolution of said containers, so that the convolutions of said filaments are overlapped in successive arcs and the filaments progressively circumferentially distributed in saidcontainers.

2. In apparatus for forming filaments from-viscose, the combination with a train of interconnected gears of the same diame ter mounted to rotate with their axes ver-.

excess of one revolution, and such turning movement in the opposite direction being less than one revolution; so that each of said gears is thus ultimately progressed in one direction more than one revolution;

such means for-turning said gears including an electric motor and means arranged to reverse the operation of said motor; means on each of said gears, arranged to center a container in coaxial relation therewith; holder vessels thus respectively mounted in coaxial relation with said gears; filament containers respectively carried insaid holder vessels in coaxial relation therewith; means arranged to deliver filaments into said containers, including feed rollers respectively extending above said containers,

upon a" common rotary shaft, arranged to turn towards said containers; filament guides, respectively local to said rollers; a slide bar carrying said guides in rigid relation therewith; and means arranged to reciprocate said bar; whereby said filaments are respectively directed through said guides, over said rollers, and deposited in said containers in convolutions which are radially and circumferentially successive, in

arcs which are'alternately greater than and less than one revolution of said containers. so that the convolutions of said filaments are overlapped in successive arcs and the filaments progressively circumferentially distributed in said containers; and a flotation liquid of substantially the same specific turning movement in one direction being in.

excess of one revolution, and such turning movement 1n the opposite direction being -less than one revolution; so that each of said gears is thus ultimately progressed in one direction more than one revolution; such means for turning-said gears including a motor and means arranged to reverse the operation of said motor; holder vessels respectively mounted on said gears; filament containers respectively carried in said holder vessels; means arranged to'deliver filaments into said containers, including. feed rollers respective-1y extending above said containers, upon a common rotary shaft, arranged to turn towards said containers; filament guides, respectively local to said rollers; a slide bar carrying said guide in rigid relation therewith; and means arranged to reciprocate said bar; whereby said filaments are respectively directed through said guides, over said rollers, and deposited in said containers in convolutions which are radially and circumferentially successive, in arcs which are alternately greater than and less than one revolution of said containersgso that the convolutions of said filaments-are overlapped in successive arcs and the filaments progressively circumferentially distributed -1n said containers;

and a flotation liquid of substantially the same specific gravity as said-filaments supporting said filaments in said containers, by the gravitative flotation effect of said liqui i Y 4. In an apparatus for forming filaments from viscose, the combination with a gear mounted to rotate with its axis vertical; of means, arranged to oscillate said, gear by turning itin one direction and then in the other, such turning movement in one direction being in excess of one but less than two revolutions, and such turning movement in the opposite direction being less than one revolution; so that said gear is thus ulti-' mately progressed in one direction more than-two revolutions; such means for turn ing said gear including an electric motor 'a'nd'means arranged to reverse the operationof said motor; means on said gear, ar-

'-ranged tocenter a' container in coaxial re- ,li tion therewith; a holder vessel mounted coaxial relation on said gear; a filament container-carried in said holder vessel in obaxial relation therewith; means arranged to deliver filament into said container, in-. cluding a feed roller extending above said container, upon a rotary shaft, arranged to turn towards said container; a filament guide, local to said roller; a slide bar carrying said guide; and means arranged to reciprocate said bar; whereby said filament is directed through said guide, over said roller, and deposited in said container in convolutions WhlCll are radlally and circumferentially successive, 111 arcs which are alternately greater than and less than one revolution of said container, so that the convolutions of said filament are overlapped in successive arcs and the filament progressively circumferentially distributed in said container.

5. In apparatus for forming filaments from viscose, the combination witha supporting member mounted to rotate with its axis vertical; of means arranged to oscillate said member by turning it alternately in opposite directionsq wilth greater movement in one direction thai'ri'n the other, whereby it is ultimately progressed in one direction; a holder vessel on said supporting member; and a filament container detachably carried in said holder vessel.

6. In apparatus" for forming filaments from viscose, the combination with an oscillatory filament container; of means arranged to deliver filament into said container, including a feed roller extending above said'container; a filament guide, local to said roller; and means arranged to reciprocate said guide longitudinally with respect to said roller; and respectively distinct means arranged to oscillate said container and turn said roller, contemporaneously;

llu

deliver filament into said container,'including a feed rollerextending above said con- .tainer; a filament guide, local to said roller;

and means. arranged to reciprocate said guide longitudinally with respect to said roller; and respectively distinct means arranged to move said container and turn said roller, contemporaneously; whereby a filament maybe directed through said guide,

oversaidroller, and deposited in said container in distributed relation with the latter.

8. In apparatus for 'forming filaments from viscose, the combination with a tank;

for coagulating liquid; ofmeans arranged to deliver afilament through and from such li uid, including a roller, a' filament guide,

a jacent to said roller, and respectively distinct means arranged to simultaneously turn said roller and move said guide longitudi- 1,588,045 I I a nally with respect to said roller; whereby a filament directed through said guide over said r0l1er,'ma-y be shifted to different regions of said roller.

9. In apparatus for forming filaments from viscose; means for receiving filaments, comprising the combination with an open topped container, capable of holding liquid;

of a vessel surrounding said container, constructed and arranged to hold liquid whlch 10 is caused to overflow from said container by the deposit of filament in the latter.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Burlington, New Jersey, this 20th day of May, 1925.

SAMUEL A. NEIDICH. 

